The sun is shining in Heckley, and the biggest case on DI Charlie Priest's books is a petty thief pinching underwear from the washing-lines of unsuspecting housewives. And the detective has another reason to be cheerful, his love life is on the up, in the form of local schoolteacher, Rosie Barraclough. But when someone starts tampering with food in the local supermarket and two people are hospitalised, Charlie must act fast to halt a media frenzy and prevent a murder. And as if that wasn't enough, intelligence soon reaches him that an organised dog-fighting ring has set up operations nearby. Charlie's relationship has reached a rocky patch too, Rosie has cooled considerably towards him and it seems she could be hiding something. When Charlie gets to the bottom of her change of heart he is somewhat concerned, but offers his help nonetheless. But, as he is about to learn, sometimes helping can only makes things worse...